Illuminated sign



A. S. I IIVIPERT.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLICATmN FILED DEC. so, 1918.

Patented July 139 1m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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MM/fi A. S. I IIVIPERT.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLIcATmN FILED umso, 1918.

Patented July E39 MEQ@ LQGAQQI,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNEssEs UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE;

ALEXANDER S. LIMPERT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GOLDEN GLOW SIGN CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1918. Serial No. 268,909.4

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER S. LIM- PERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, such as will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same.

My present invention relates generally to that type of advertising device designated v as an illuminated or electrical sign, and has for its chief aim to simplify and improve the construction "and to increase tlre'eficiency and utility of devices of this character. The invention has reference more particularly to the provision of a novel reflecting lens means adapted to define in a brilliant and clear-cut manner a letter or character in the face plate of a single-face sign, or a plurality of vopposed lettei's or characters in the instance of a double-faced sign, and capable ofv receiving illumination from a single source of light. For example, in a double-faced sign containing the advertising word-DRUGS-on each side, only five incandescent lights for the ten letters would be required, thereby effecting a material reduction in this respect and consequently in regard to costs of maintenance and upkeep over existing signs. This constitutes one of the principal objective features of my invention. Furthermore, with the reduced number of lights employed, a noteworthy saving may be made in respect to the requisite wiring, and also with regard to the constructional costs of the body of the sign since lighter and cheaper material may be used with considerable advantage in connection with its construction.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision in a sign of a series of novel lenses arranged to outline the advertisement, each constructed to simulate the more expensive incandescent light which it is intended to replace in the face plate of the sign; together with novel light controlling means for said lenses arranged with reference to a means of illumination, both of which means lare designed to be inclosed within the vsign casing proper, and when.

thus incloscd are protected from exposure to the elements and lagainst dirt and dust novel. details of construction of the improved device, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

These, together with such other objects Patented J uly 13, 1920.

and advantages as are incident to my invention, I attain by means of a construction, illustrated in preferred form in the acoompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of an illuminated sign to which the invention is applied;

Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and centrally through the letter S and the letter B on the reverse side of the sign; l

Figs. 3 and 4 are interior rear elevations of the face plate portions of the casing carrying the letters S and 13, respectively.

Fig. 5 represents a view in front elevation of a block sign letter as illustrative of a` characters 8 and 9 denote the front and rear panels or face plates, and 10, 11 and 12 designate the top, bottom and side walls of a closed double-face sign box or casing 413 carrying back-to-back on both of said plates any desired advertisement such as the word BAGS which may be painted or otherwise aiixed thereto in any suitable manner.

One of the principal aims of my invention is to, employ in an eliicient manner a single source of illumination, as the incandescent lamp 14, for each pair of opposed letters, for example, the front and rear letters S and B of the word suggested in Fig. 1, instead of using a relatively greater number of such lamps as has heretofore been the case. In order to attain this aim I provide a series of light-projecting optical members, as the lenses 15, which are mounted at intervals in apertures formed in each of the plates 8 and 9 along the contour of the letters in order to outline them at night. It is l considered preferable that the lamp 14, whose socket is indicated at 16, be mounted on one of the face plates so that its filament j occupies a position centrally of the letters' each of which is inclined toward the filament at an angle of substantially 4:50 with reference to its face plate, and from approximately a point on the periphery of the base 15 of the lens farthest removed from the source. Such mirror is preferably composed of silvered glass having a polished surface 17, or it mayl be of polished metal or other suitable material, and we consider it desirable that it shall have its surface 17 slightly concave since such a mirror will augment the intensity of the beam projected through that lens with which it coperates, and furthermore, by varying the degree of concavity of members of the series, the intensity of the projected beam or beams may be controlled "in order to even-up the lenses composing the letter. Dilferently stated, the quality of brilliance of any lens, whether remote or close to the source, may be determined by the degree of the concavity of its mirror. y

The lens constructed as shown is of the Fresnel or spherical type, and in practice I have found that this lens, which has a concavo-convex light-diffusing central portion 18 and a series of prismatic zones or refracting surfaces 19 formed on its inner face, `produces with its reflector a most effective combination which condenses in the projected beams of the lens set nearly `all of the light flux emanating from the source, and particularly so in View of the fact that the entire interiorvof the casing 13 is painted white which practically obviates loss usually caused by absorption or useless reflection, and Wholly eliminates penumbra. The mirrors, it will be understood, produce a much enlarged image of the source {ilament, and the effect is such that the lenses severally equal, if not exceed, the appear- .ance and brilliance of the more expensive incandescent lamp, while--at a remote distance away from the sign the letters co1nposing the sign Word are strikingly precise and distinct.. Another noteworthy feature of my invention, resultant from this combination, is that the lamps and all refleeting and refracting surfaces are so lo cated as to be protected against weather and dirt by the casing, access to the interior of which may easily be had by hinging to the casing one of the face plates.

Where a portion of a lens-outlined letter,

as in the case of S or 13, crosses the center line of that portion of the plate car-l rying it, I preferably incline or tilt the lamp at an angle of incidence, asin Fig. 2, so that an imaginary line joining the axes of the opposed central lenses 15,a lwill pass diagonally through the approximate center of the lamp filament, and in order that this may be accomplished such lenses 15a are not provided, as are the others, with mirrors. In the case of such letters as 0, U and the like, the lampneed not be inclined, but may be positioned horizontally if desired; and in this connection it may be stated that instead of inclining a single lamp for such letters as B two horizontal lamps may be employed by locating them behind the plates at the points indicated by the character X in Fig. 4 and correspondingly adjusting the mirrors toward them. This ar` rangement is, of course, less advantageous, as it increases initial cost and subsequent upkeep, and involves the use of an additional mirror for the central lens. larly, where, as Iin Fig. 5, a large block sign letter with a pair of parallel rows of lenses 15 may be desired, a plurality of lampsll` are interiorly located behind plate 8 between the lens rows, the mirrors (not indicated) being respectively inclined toward the nearest source.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, which illustrate a preferred mounting, or positioning means for the mirrors, it will be seen that the base 15b of the lens which extends inwardly to project slightly beyond the inner face of the plate is peripherally formed with an annular groove designed to be detachably and turn- Vably engaged by a spring metal loop 2() which bears against said inner face to hold the lens against outward displacement. Thel ends of this loop are provided with spaced arms 21 contacting with the back of the mirror, and which arms are terminally formed at 22 and 28, so as to peripherally engage and hold the mirror in its" inclined refiecting position with reference both to the source lilament and the lens axis. A gasket 24 may desirably be utilized to create a tight` joint between the outer face of the plate and an annular flange 25 exteriorly formed on the vlens to aid in positioning it.

The lens is so constructed as to' be capable of receiving the light at short range,

. that portion embodying the prismatic zones Sim'ifront of the sign to see a series of concentrated beams of light emanating from the lenses composing the sign, which effect is strikingly clear and distinct at remote distances. The observer in moving off' to one lside of the sign, so as to view it at an angle,

face plates are denuded of everything eX-.

cept the lens sets which compose the sign. Other advantages will, no doubt, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

lVhile I have employed the term lens in certain of the claims, it will be understood that its use in this connection is characterized so as to include within its scope such substitutions or equivalentstructures as` are ordinarily used for the diffusion and distribution of light in this and analogous arts.

What I claim is: A l. In a sign, the combination of a casing -having a lens support, a series of lenses outlining a character in the outer face of said support, a lamp disposed within the casing and positioned substantially centrally of and behind the lenses composing the character thus outlined, and a set of reflecting mirrors individually cooperating with said lenses, members of said set inwardly inclined in different directions toward said lamp from coplanar points in said lens support, said lenses and said' reflectors constructed and arrangedv whereby each of the latter directly reflects the image of the lamp filament through that character-outlining lens with which it cooperates.

2. In a sign, the combination with a frame having opposite spaced sides and a source of light positioned between said sides, of a plurality of character-indicating lenses in each side of the frame, a part of said lenses having their major axes out of alinement with said source and the other part having their major axes disposed in substantial alinement therewith, and a reflector for each of those lenses whose axes are out of alinement with the source, said reflectors extending inwardly i toward said source, and the latter being positioned to constitute the focal center of said reflectors and of those lenses axially alined with said source.

3. In a s ign, the combination plate and a source of light, of a group of characterindicating lenses carried by said with a face plate, one of said lenses positioned substantially centrally of the lens group and disposed to have its major axis in substantial alinement with the source, and reflector means for the other lenses of the group,.all constructed and arranged whereby said source constitutes the focal center for the major axes of all the lenses composing the group. y

4. In an illuminating sign, the combination of a display plate provided with a group of character-indicating lenses, a source of illumination `disposed substantially centrally of at least a plurality of thellenses composing said group, and separate reflectors for said lenses independently grouped aborti said source and relatively positioned so tha;y their reflecting surfaces are exposed to directly receive thereon incident rays of light emanating radially from said source.

5. In a sign, the combination of a face plate provided with a group of character outlining lenses, a source of illumination disposed substantially centrally of and behind the members of said group,'and a group of coperating reflectors for said lenses, members of said reflector group marginally hinged to members of the lens group and inclined inwardly toward said source and positioned with reference to each other and said source whereby they unobstructively receive and directly reflect rays of light emanating from said source toward the major axes of the lenses with which they coperate.

6. In a sign, the combination with a closure casing having opposed face plates each provided with a series of lenses arranged to exteriorly outline a letter and interiorly with a group of reflecting mirrors coperating with said lenses, and an illuminating element positioned substantially centrally of the members composing the mirror groups and of the letters thus outlined, said mirrors inclined from outer marginal points on the lenses inwardlt1 toward said source and positioned with reference to each other so that theirreflecting surfaces are wholly exposed to reflect the filament image of said source through the major axes of the lenses.

7. In a sign, the combination with a face plate provided with an aperture, a character indicating lens having a portion thereof marginally engaged 'in said aperture, a reflecting mirror adapted to be angularly disposed with reference to the axis of said lens, and a mounting forsaid mirrorhaving a portion gripping the mirror and provided with a rebent supporting loop turnably engaged about s aid lens portion.

8. In a sign, the combination with a suitable frame and a source of illumination, of a group of character-indicating lenses spacedly carried by said frame whereby a part of said lens group is disposed above the source and another part disposed below it,

and a group of reflector mirrors each individually coperatingwith said lensesand eX-" tended inwardl toward said source'to refleet toward an through said lenses substanpart of said lens group is disposed above the source `and another part disposedbelow it, and a group of reieetor mlrrors each 1nd1.-

vidullyv eoperating with saidlenses and extended v`inwardly toward said source to Wholly reflectv the source image through said lenses, said mirrors provided with means for detachably gripping marginal portions of said lenses.

10. In a sign, the combination with 1a display plate provided with a group of character indicating members positioned Within the contour of the character to be outlined, of a single source of illumination for said members kdisposed in the approximate center vof said group and behind the platemembers of said group provided with coperating reflectlng surfaces grouped about said source,

said. surfaces `disposed rearwardly of said members and inclined inwardly therefrom toward said source whereby toreflect rays lemitted from the source toward and through the character indicating members with which said surfaces severally coperate.

ALEXANDER S. LIMPERT. 

